TNT Sports is expected to expand its College Football Playoff rights by airing one semifinal game annually from 2026 to 2028 in a deal with ESPN, people briefed on the decision told The Athletic.
While ESPN owns the broadcast rights to the CFP through the 2031 season, it already had a deal in place with TNT to license other games. TNT aired two Saturday first-round games last season, and TNT will again have two first-round games this upcoming season, both from a 12-team playoff bracket. TNT also has rights to two quarterfinals each year from 2026 to 2028. Now it will add a semifinal in those years, too. Yahoo Sports first reported the expected agreement.
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Last year’s playoff games on TNT were produced by ESPN and used ESPN broadcasters, but were branded with TNT Sports. That will continue through this extended deal.
ESPN president Jimmy Pitaro told Sports Business Journal last year that ESPN did not initially intend to sublicense CFP games, but TNT Sports, part of Warner Bros. Discovery, put forth a “very attractive” offer. ESPN will pay around $1.3 billion annually for the CFP rights through 2031 when the next contract begins next year, according to sources involved in the negotiation. ESPN also has the right to sublicense games from 2028 to 2031.
However, what the CFP looks like in 2026 and beyond is still up in the air. The Big Ten and the SEC hold control over what the format will be, and winds are trending toward expanding to a 16-team model. That next contract does not require ESPN to pay more beyond the 11 games currently in the 12-team model. It’s also possible a 16-team playoff could start a week earlier, pitting teams seeded 13 through 16 against each other on what is typically Army-Navy weekend.
It’s not yet clear which games would fall under TNT’s rights for “first-round” games in that situation, because a format has yet to be determined. This semifinal licensing deal also furthers TNT’s move into college sports after losing NBA rights. As part of a trade-like move made last year that will send the “Inside The NBA” studio show to ESPN on a licensing deal, TNT Sports obtained the rights to Big 12 football and men’s basketball games.
The Big 12 recently announced three early football games that will air on TNT and the Max streaming service this fall. TNT Sports also airs Mountain West football games on truTV. Those sets of games will be produced and staffed by TNT Sports.
(Photo: Alex Slitz / Getty Images)
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